The University Scholars Awards, presented annually, honor and recognize distinguished UVM faculty members for sustained excellence in research, creative and scholarly activities. The award is co-sponsored by the Provost and the Graduate College.

Professor Taylor H. Ricketts, Ph.D., Gund Institute for Environment, Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources

Taylor Ricketts received his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Stanford University, where he also completed a post-doctoral fellowship. Before joining UVM, he served as a Senior Fellow and Director of the Conservation Science Program at the World Wildlife Fund. Since 2011, he has been Professor and Director of the Gund Institute for Environment, including during the transition to an independent institute. Dr. Ricketts has been recognized as a Fellow of both the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Ecological Society of America (ESA). His highly influential work in ecosystem science and conservation includes pioneering the concept of "ecoregion-scale conservation," which addresses the complex dynamics of entire ecological communities. He has conducted groundbreaking work to delineate, analyze, and prioritize ecoregions across North America and subsequently on all continents. Dr. Ricketts' expertise in spatial ecology, particularly patterns of animal movements, has significantly influenced landscape ecology, conservation science, and species mobility research. His exceptional productivity and international visibility have made him the highest cited researcher in environment and ecology. Dr. Ricketts' scholarly output includes over 150 peer-reviewed publications and six books. His research has been funded by prestigious organizations including the USDA, NSF, USAID, and the US Department of Commerce. As a university stakeholder, Dr. Ricketts has led numerous interdisciplinary teams working on climate and planetary health issues across various fields. He has guided 134 Gund scholars and mentored 10 graduate students, 20 post-doctoral fellows, and numerous undergraduate students. For his impactful and highly influential work on ecosystems, conservation, and planetary health, Dr. Ricketts is highly deserving of the UVM University Scholar honor.